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ORIGINAL POST: March 14, 2006
I want to share this little tidbit with readers of NWD, not because I think this is particularly clever, but because it is a simple but useful little trick. If you are an owner of a Moleskinei Traveler notebook case, or have a carrier case with similarly designed pen slots you may want to try this. I have always had trouble carrying real pencils with me away from home - if you put a nice sharp pencil in one of these types of pen slots the points usually end up poking through the fabric, or the pencil point breaks off.
Many years ago you could get these nice metal caps to protect your pencil points. They are now collectible, and can be hard to find and a bit pricey. There are some inexpensive plastic ones available as well, but what could be less expensive than recycling? For those of us who don't want to invest in the Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil set, here's a suggestion: recycle your empty Pilot G2 pen. Sure it will never have the same executive class as the Perfect Pencil, but you can feel good about saving money AND for finding a use for something you would otherwise throw away.
I took apart an empty Pilot G2 pen and am now using it as a point guard for carrying pencils in my case. I slide the top half of the G2 pen case over the point of my pencil (in this case a California Republic Golden Bear), and the clip on the pen top holds the pencil in place in the pen slot of my Traveler case. It is possible to wedge the pencil tip inside the pen cap so that it holds snug to the pencil, but the best thing about this scenario is that it covers the pencil point, keeping it from breaking off in transit. You can see in the picture that the G2 pen top has a red knob on it - I swapped that piece out from a red Pilot G2 to distinguish it from the G2 pens that I carry in the same case. That way I know which is the actual pen and which is the pencil at a glance. This has worked very well for carrying pencils in my Moleskine Traveler case, and may also work for you in other types of pen slots or using other disposable pen pieces as well. Let me know how this works for you.
Original Comments from NWD Blog
LOL, very clever! ;-)
Also, grab yourself a Pilot Mini G2 gel pen. Just got some and they're great.
Posted by: http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/ | March 14, 2006 at 12:38 PM
I found a plastic "perfect pencil" cap on sale somewhere. I like the built-in sharpener as a tool of last resort, but for the most part, I prefer the Japanese pencil caps I picked up at kawaiigifts.com -- they're shaped like little grocery items. Wasabi tubes, cola, and dish soap now keep my pencil points from going astray, and keep my smiling, too. Not the most digified of solutions, but one likely to be found at the local Hello Kitty store wherever you are.
Posted by: Alia | March 15, 2006 at 08:52 AM
Why not just grab a leadholder pencil instead? For example Staedtler Mars Technico 780C or 788C
http://www.staedtler.com/Mars_technico_780_C_gb.Staedtler?ActiveID=2204
Those has sharpeners in the cap =)
Posted by: Aeriks | March 16, 2006 at 02:27 PM
Aeriks -
I have one of those already, but I prefer my Palomino & Golden Bear pencils.
Plus, I'm recycling! - Ninth Wave
Posted by: Ninth Wave Designs | March 16, 2006 at 04:10 PM
Looking for a sulotion I tried
one of the caps for a errase able pen. I dont like metal ferrules and it holds the erraser, and matches my ticondaroga black. However it scraches the pencil and doesent hold well. I cant wait to try your solution.
Posted by: Eolt | March 19, 2006 at 01:10 PM
I tried it and it needs some inprovmeant.
step by step
Preparation- use a knife or plyers to remove the ferrule or erraser
1. unscrew+ remove clicking mechanizim- dont throw it away!
2- take the "drum" and clip off the thing that is sticking out. Drop it back in, sticking out thing twards the top.
You may want to drop in some hot(or super) glue. To do this put in the drum and hold it with a pencil. Turn it right side up, drop in the glue. When it is solid enough take out the pencil. Let dry.
3. If you wish you can saw off all of the pen untill the clip. This will allow you to put in a smaller pencil.
4.Take masking tape(duct is too thick), and wrap it around the top of a pencil(near the point, but before it gets thinner)(sticky side out) and insert. To get it in push and twist.
5. Remember that thing that you used to press? You threw that out right? Good that is where the erraser will go. The drum will keep the pencil point sharp and stop it from going too far and pushing out the erraser. You can use the pencil erraser or extras for a mechanical pencil ( what I prefer) Bic Phd multi or pencil errasers fit fine, but for others we need to encase it in somthing. For smaller errasers wrap a bit bellow the bottom half in masking tape and trim the bottom. If it is too small you might have to wrap more than once. If you have to wrap more than 3 times it is too small.
This is what I use all day long and it works like a dream.
Thank you!!
Posted by: Eolt | March 21, 2006 at 09:05 PM